As the Mexican Empire Dissolves, Central American Caudillos Rise
It was one thing for the Mexican Empire to gain recognition from Spain as a legitimate, independent monarchy in 1821, but it was quite another for Mexico to maintain unity and sovereignty over most of North and Central America as a monarchy. Shortly after pro-republican forces overthrew Emperor Iturbide, provinces from Guatemala down to current-day Costa Rica declared their independence from Mexico. These three documents reflect the difficult processes of early state formation in Central America, as opposing factions competed to gain political prominence. Consequently, this region struggled to retain durable central governments in the wake of the ensuing social unrest. The perpetual political infighting resulted in fragile governments that were susceptible to rebellions led by men known as caudillos. Caudillos were military leaders who rose through the ranks and utilized political propaganda to decrease their rivals’ influence. With caudillos at the helm, these authoritarian regimes frequently infringed upon the rights of the citizens to secure public tranquility and their hold on power. The following documents offer a glimpse into this period of upheaval and uncertainty through the words of those who either accused others of caudillismo or, arguably, were caudillos themselves.
This “cry of patriotism” was first penned in San Vicente, it then was printed in Comayagua, and circulated throughout El Salvador in 1843. The patriotic cry came from El Salvador ́s Liberal party that sought to chastise the Conservatives. The Conservative Party controlled the central region of the newly formed republic, and the Liberals claimed the Conservatives had offered only “irresponsible and malevolent” leadership. The Liberals focused their anger on Francisco Morazán, who served as President of the Federal Republic of Central America from 1830 to 1839. These self-proclaimed patriots refer to the Salvadoran Government as a toy for self-interested and corrupt politicians. This print broadside conveys how authority and legitimacy in El Salvador rested on a fragile balance of regional, ethnic, factional, and community alliances. Political stability was an elusive goal in Central America during this period.
The Federal Republic of Central America (1823-1839) issued this governmental decree in 1831 from the National Palace of Guatemala, and it perfectly captures the tense and turbulent political situation in Central America during the era of Caudillos. In Central America, ideological differences between Liberal and Conservative factions had created a constant state of political instability and social unrest. As a consequence of this political volatility, the Federal Republic was continually on the brink of collapse. This document provides a glimpse of this tense period under Francisco Morazán, and describes how the government legitimated its efforts to infringe upon the rights of its citizens by arguing that it was trying to “secure the tranquility of the public”. In this early period of nation-building in Latin America, Caudillos like Morazán were very influential in the early development of these young countries, for better or worse.
This document is a 3-page letter from then president of Mexico Guadalupe Victoria in 1828 to the Mexican people. It comes at a time of upheaval and uncertainty in Mexican history. Mexico had just received independence and was in the early stages of trying to forge a formidable and reliable republic. It announces the rebellious conduct of Santa Anna and warns of his escape and attempts to start an uprising. It was made to warn Mexicans of Santa Anna’s corrupt ways and urges his citizens to stand by him and the Mexican constitution.